Bull Trout Population Study in the Middle Fork Willamette and McKenzie River Drainage Basins

June - November 1994

Stephen D. Hammond Giles C. Thelen

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 3150 East Main Street Springfield, OR 97478

November 1994 CONTENTS

Page MAINSTEM McKENZIE POPULATION SUMMARY...... 1 JUVENILE SURVEYS: Lower Separation Creek ...... 2 Upper Separation Creek and Separation Lake...... 4 Harvey Creek...... 5 George Creek ...... 6 Anderson Creek...... 7 Olallie Creek ...... 8 Creek 58 ...... 9 Buck Side Channel ...... 10 Sweetwater Creek...... 11 ADULT SURVEYS: McKenzie Standard Pool Check ...... 12 SPAWNING SURVEYS: Separation Creek...... 18 Anderson and Ollalie ...... 19

SOUTH FORK McKENZIE POPULATION SUMMARY...... 24 JUVENILE SURVEYS: South Fork ...... 25 Elk Creek ...... 28 Roaring River...... 29 ...... 32 ADULT SURVEYS: South Fork ...... 33 Standard Pools ...... 40

MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE POPULATION SUMMARY...... 45 JUVENILE SURVEYS Beaver Creek...... 46 Chuckle Spring ...... 49 Found Creek ...... 50 Indigo Creek ...... 51 Pioneer Gulch ...... 52 Middle Fork Willamette ...... 53 ADULT/SPAWNING SURVEYS Middle Fork Willamette and Simpson Creek Spawning...... 54 Found and Swift Creek Spawning...... 58 North Fork of Middle Fork Willamette Adults ...... 61 MAINSTEM McKENZIE POPULATION SUMMARY

Historically, bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) were either a contiguous population ranging from the lower McKenzie River up to Tamolitch Falls and extending up the larger tributaries, or two populations with overlapping distributions and some genetic interchange. If two populations did exist, one may have spawned in the upper reaches of the South Fork and one in the upper reaches of the mainstem.

Spawning habitat is thought to be a limiting factor for this populations. Culvert modification to allow migration of spawning adults has been completed on Sweetwater Creek. Modification of the Olallie Creek culvert under highway 126 is scheduled for summer 1995. Angling is also a concern for the bull trout. Catch and release regulations are in effect, and identification signs have been posted at campsites and fishing holes. There is some possibility for a bull trout hybridization with brook trout S. fontinalis above Bridge Reservoir and in the Horse Creek Basin, where a hybrid was identified in 1992 by Forest Service biologists.

conducted juvenile surveys in Creek 58, Buck Side Channel and in the Horse Creek basin, including Separation, Harvey, and George Creeks.

The 1994 field surveys during the summer have provided important and useful information. Spawning surveys on Anderson Creek were expanded to include the entire stream. Thirty redds were documented, and their depths and water velocities measured. Three redds were observed on Olallie Creek, one of which had two bull trout on it. This is the first time bull trout have been observed spawning in Olallie Creek. Twenty three age 0 bull trout in Olallie Creek that had been transferred there in March 1994. Juvenile bull trout were also transferred to Sweetwater Creek in 1993 and 1994. A night snorkel survey located 11 age 1+ and seven age 0 bull trout all within 50m of the stocking point.

Surveys on lower Separation Creek located one 6-8" bull trout. Fish identified last year as bull trout were actually spring chinook. In the Wildlerness, Upper Separation, Harvey,and George Creeks were surveyed, but no bull trout were located. Creek 58 and Buck Side Channel surveys on the mainstem McKenzie also failed to locate any bull trout.

Snorkeling the mainstem McKenzie River between Olallie Campground and Paradise Campground may prove to be a useful method to index bull trout populations. It appears that the adult bull trout seem to be staging in the deeper pools in the McKenzie before moving to spawning areas.

SEPARATION CREEK (LOWER)

1 DATE: July 12, 1994; 0900- 1400 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Lewis WEATHER: Sunny 85°F; water temperature 46°F OBSERVATIONS: 1 bull trout - 250mm Chinook fry: 65-75 observed Cutthroat trout (approx. 45) Rainbow trout (approx. 35) NOTES: We surveyed from the 100m below the confluence of Horse Creek and Separation Creek to 1.2 miles up Separation Creek. The water moved at a high velocity through much of the channel, but there were several side channels and margin areas which were prime bull trout habitat, which includes slower water, woody detritus, and good canopy cover. In these areas we observed a bull trout (Fig 1.), several chinook and many cutthroat. Stream habitat consisted of many log jams, woody debris, and root wads. The substrata was made up of large cobble and boulders, with areas of gravel and silt in the slower water. Much canopy cover was provided by the healthy old growth, mixed age stand of fir, hemlock, cedar, and vine maple. We located the bull trout in the second side channel about .3 miles up from the confluence of Separation Creek and Horse Creek. The water velocity here was medium to still, and varied in depth from six-36 inches. This area is covered by a vegetation bridge which provides much cover. We observed the trout about 10 meters up from the downstream side of this sided channel at the beginning of this vegetation bridge. He was in still water in a dark area, so a flashlight was necessary. Five yards downstream from this location on the North bank was an undercut of an old growth cedar which seemed to be prime juvenile habitat. Five chinook fry were observed here and one possible bull trout fry about 35mm in length.

Cutthroat were the primary trout observed. Of the 45 observed 20 were below 100mm and 25 were between 100-250mm. The rainbow ranged in sizes between 30-100mm (15) and 100-300mm (20). The 70 chinook observed were between 25-100mm in length.

2 SEPARATION CREEK (UPPER) and SEPARATION LAKE DATE: September 7, 1994; 1900-2200 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond, (D. Bickford, J. Capurso USFS) WEATHER: Clear, sunny. Water temperature: 8°C OBSERVATIONS: Cutthroat: 25mm - 230mm Sculpin: 50mm - 100mm NOTES: We sampled from where trail 3536 first nears Separation Creek downstream about 600m to the bottom of a large side channel. For lake, just continue on trail to marked lake turn off. The two teams split up at the bottom of a side channel and worked upstream, with Jim and Dave working the main channel and Steve and Giles going up the side channel. They reported that the main channel had swift water and a steep gradient, so not much good habitat in the margins or on the channel was seen - only one nice lateral scour pool with deep undercut banks. There were a few good plunge pools, but no bull trout seen. Their last 200m had log jams, pools, and decent cover and habitat for adults and juvenile bull trout. The side channel we went on had lots of nice rearing habitat for bull trout. There were many margins and side channels of this side channel that provided lots of cover via downed logs, and sunken woody debris. The last 200m here had lots of successive 1.8m - 2.4m deep pools caused by log jams, providing nice spawning gravel at the tail end of these pools. This stretch cuts through where a forest used to be, so there's many standing snags and islands of vegetation. This, however, opened up the canopy so there's not much protection provided from the elements. The substrata consisted mostly of sand and silt, with areas of gravel and cobble. Both teams than worked together up the main cannel for 50m, but this was mostly riffles with a cobble and boulder substrate, and no good habitat was observed for juvenile bull trout. We walked along Separation Cr. for several miles, and it was confined through much of this stretch, with exposed bedrock along the banks in many areas. Some decent marginal pockets, but not much.

Separation Lake had ducks, heron, frogs, red-tailed hawks, and a brook trout about 200mm was caught, with many more biting on the line. The creek about 5m up from the trail junction had nice juvenile habitat, but no fish were observed.

3 HARVEY CREEK DATE: September 7, 1994; 1800-2000 PERSONNEL: G.Thelen, S. Hammond. D. Bickford, J. Capurso (USFS). WEATHER: Clear. Water temperature: 9°C OBSERVATIONS: Cutthroat: 25mm - 130mm Sculpin: 50mm - 75mm NOTES: From confluence of Harvey and Separation Cr. upstream 200m. Take Folley Ridge road to trailhead 3536. Follow trail to first close contact with Separation Cr. Follow side channel on left facing downstream (through the "dead forest") to the mouth of Harvey Cr. George Cr. has it's mouth downstream about 50m of the confluence of this side channel. The two teams worked from the confluence of the side channel up to the mouth of Harvey Cr. We than split up, with Dave and Jim working up Harvey Cr., and Steve and Giles working up the side channel, thinking that Harvey came in at two places. It doesn't, so we continued up the side channel and onto the main channel for 200m, finding no good habitat for juvenile bull trout up stream of the "dead forest". The other team reported that Harvey Cr. had poor spawning habitat, with little gravel available. Woody detritus in the channel was associated with high levels of silt. There is good rearing habitat in the multiple side channels, but few cutthroat were observed. There is wood available for cover, but no bull trout seen.

4 GEORGE CREEK DATE: September 7, 1994; 1800-2000 PERSONNEL: G.Thelen, S. Hammond, (D. Bickford, J. Capurso USFS). WEATHER: Clear. Water temperature: 9°C OBSERVATIONS: Cutthroat NOTES: Take Folley Ridge road to trailhead 3536. Follow trail to first close contact with Separation Cr. Follow side channel on left facing downstream (through the "dead forest") to the mouth of Harvey Cr. George Cr. has it's mouth downstream about 50m of the confluence of this side channel. The mouth of George Cr. was only three feet wide, so we did not snorkel. Only cutthroat were observed by a visual search.

5 ANDERSON CREEK DATE: August 1, 1994; 1500-1700 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond WEATHER: Sunny, 80°F OBSERVATIONS: 7 bull trout observed: 5 0-year about 25mm; two 65mm. NOTES: Downstream from highway 126 culvert about 100m. We found five 0 year bull trout at the third major log jam below the culvert. They were on the left bank going downstream (west) in the slow moving water in the margin area. A 65mm bull trout was seen below this log jam on east bank margin in an undercut bank. The last bull trout observed was across from an old road used for stream habitat restoration, so it's the first road which comes to the water on the east bank side. The bull trout was on the west bank side in calm water behind a boulder on the margin.

6 OLALLIE CREEK DATE: August 17, 1994; 2140-2330 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond WEATHER: Clear; water temp. 39°F OBSERVATIONS: Bull trout: 23 juveniles (stocked in March 1994) - 35mm-55mm NOTES: Beginning of Olallie Creek (where the water started) to major spring entering the creek from the west 30m from the confluence with a tributary entering from the east. FS rd. 2657 to primitive campsite to right just west to FS rd. 830. Follow rough trail southwest to creek (look for three standing metal fence posts and white water heater tank on its side). A visual surface search (no snorkeling) located five bull trout in very small pools where the trail met the creek (probably where it was stocked). We traveled 15m upstream to where the creek started and located two bull trout above the trail and the other three at the trail. We continued downstream and noticed the remaining bull trout became increasingly dispersed. The last one was observed just upstream of the first of two springs that entered the creek. The temperature of both springs was 37°F. The water flow from the second spring was 2-3 times the flow of the creek above the spring. The first spring was about 2/3 of the creek flow. Habitat above the first spring was good. Downed logs, woody debris, in-stream detritus, and canopy provided excellent cover (about 65% of the creek was completely covered). Old growth and younger cedar, Douglas fir, and hemlock lined both steep banks. There was little erosion and infrequent undercut banks in this section. Water velocity and volume below the first spring increased dramatically, which reduced the number of calm pools and backwater. The search was terminated at the second spring.

This section was also stocked with juvenile chinook, but none were observed.

7 CREEK 58 DATE: July 14, 1994; 2130-2300 PERSONNEL: S. Lewis, U. S. Forest Service WEATHER: Clear, 50°F. Night snorkel OBSERVATIONS: Approximately 20 cutthroat trout (50mm-200mm) 1 sculpin. NOTES: McKenzie Hwy 126, less than a mile west of McKenzie Ranger Station. Small wooden fence on north side of road is the only marking. From pool below Hwy 126 culvert to marshy source. No bull trout were observed. Only cutthroat were seen. Very shallow water. Most of area could not be snorkeled, only probed with lights. Cobbled creek with mostly exposed small rocks turning into tall grass cover toward source. Could not even probe with lights in the grass cover area.

8 BUCK SIDE CHANNEL DATE: August 31, 1994; 0800-1500 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, eight members of Blue River USFS fish crew WEATHER: Sunny, 85°F OBSERVATIONS: No bull trout 250 chinook juveniles 125 cutthroat from 25-250mm red -legged frogs, sculpins, and a Pacific giant salamander NOTES: The entire length of Buck Side Channel, about 700m, was surveyed. Take highway 126 to road 2650, about two miles past Belknap Springs. This was a level 3 stream habitat survey to determine the length and position of each fish species found in the channel. We broke up into three groups consisting of two snorkelers and a recorder. Several 150mm bull trout were observed here earlier in the year, but no bull trout were observed this time (the water level was now much lower). There was good habitat in places on this channel, much of which was created by the USFS, such as log jams, which created nice glides, pools, and woody cover. There were also some good root wads and undercut banks, but cutthroat and chinook were the only fish seen.

9 SWEETWATER CREEK NIGHT SNORKEL DATE: July 6, 1994 PERSONNEL: S. Lewis, G. Thelen WEATHER: Clear, warm OBSERVATIONS: Bull Trout: 1 95mm - 125mm 10 25mm - 60mm Cutthroat: Numerous NOTES: All juvenile bull trout observed in mossy margins adjacent to the stocking site. Heavy blowdown throughout channel due to clearcut 30m to the west.

DATE: September 14, 1994; 2030-2200 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond, J. Karagavoorian (USFS) WEATHER: Clear OBSERVATIONS: Bull trout: 11 95mm-125mm 7 25mm-60mm Cutthroat: numerous 100mm-175mm NOTES: From below old bridge on Rd. 720 (stocking location) downstream 150m. McKenzie Hwy. east to Rd. 720 (adjacent to Trail Bridge Reservoir). This road has a locked gate - need Forest Service key. This section had excellent cover provided by heavy tree blowdown from adjacent clearcut to west. In-stream habitat was also good, provided by woody debris and overhanging and aquatic vegetation. All bull trout were observed in the last 50m below the bridge.

All larger bull trout were out in the channel, many interspersed with cutthroat. The smaller ones were all near the bridge where they were stocked, up in the moss and vegetation in the margins.

10 MCKENZIE RIVER STANDARD POOL CHECK Olallie Boat Ramp to Paradise Campground

July 7, 1994

PERSONNEL: M. Wade, G. Thelen, S. Lewis

The purpose of this trip was to train Giles and Sandy on fish identification and to an explore the possibility of inventorying bull trout in the mainstem McKenzie by snorkeling. We got a rather late start at about 1:00 and consequently did not do a thorough job on counting fish besides bull trout. This trip should be repeated latter this year to obtain changes in bull trout distribution and to make a more complete count of other fish. The weather was clear and sunny with an air temperature of 90oF. Pool locations are on the attatched map (Fig. 2), and results displayed graphically (Fig. 3).

1. Olallie boat ramp: Saw 3 bull trout about 12, 12 and 18 inches. They were on the far side of the pool from the ramp mixed in with whitefish near the bottom.

2. Deer Creek: No bull trout. We just got a brief look before some anglers arrived. The water appeared too swift. but may be better later in the year as the flow drops.

3. Frissell Creek: No bull trout in a small shallow pool just above the mouth of Frissell Creek.

4. Highway pool: Saw 2 bull trout, 14 and 24 inches, in quiet water on the bottom.

5. Ledge pool: Saw 1 bull trout about 12 inches. Anglers were present so we did not get as good of a look as we wanted.

6. Upper Belknap: Saw 3 bull trout, 18, 24 and 24 inches. the smaller one was near the head of the pool and the other 2 were on the right near the tail of the pool.

7. Lower Belknap: No bull trout but 1 salmon.

8. Upper Bigelow: No bull trout but 2 salmon.

9. Bigelow Logjam: Did not sample but should in the future.

10. Bigelow Bridge: No bull trout.

TOTAL: 9 bull trout observed

McKENZIE RIVER - Olallie Boat Ramp to Paradise Campground - continued

11 July 27, 1994

PERSONNEL: M. Wade, G. Thelen, S. Lewis

The same group returned and snorkeled the same holes, plus looked at a few additional ones between Paradise Campground and McKenzie bridge Campground, but none were snorkeled in this stretch. The water temperature was 7.5°C at Olallie Campground and it was 85°F and sunny outside. Time was 1100 - 1700.

1. Olallie boat ramp: Saw five bull trout here in about the same location. Sizes were: two 24”; one 20”; one 14”; and one 12”. The water here was very murky, and so our visibility was limited.

2. Deer Creek: One bull trout was observed about 24” in length off to the west bank at lower end of pool.

4. Highway pool: No bull trout seen. Visibility was better in these lower pools.

5. Ledge pool: Two bull trout observed, one 24” and one 18”. They were seen three- fourths of the way through the pool; on the west bank side towards the middle of water.

6. Upper Belknap: Saw nine bull trout, two 18”-20”, seven 24”-30” and they were found in the middle of the hole towards the east bank. These large bull trout were the majority of the fish in this hole. We snorkeled from a side channel above the pool down to it and found many large rainbow and cutthroat in this whitewater area, indicating that the bull trout intimidated the other trout out of this pool.

7 Lower Belknap: Five bull trout observed, one 16” and four 24”-30” found in the middle of rapids in the middle of the hole. Four chinook were also witnessed.

8. Upper Bigalow: One bull trout 14” in length observed in eddy on east side of fish rock. Seen in the with the white fish. Three chinook seen also.

9. Bigalow log jam: No bull trout seen. Not advised to look again.

10. Bigalow bridge: No bull trout seen. One 25-ton hydraulic jack recovered.

11. Paradise CG: One bull trout at beginning of pool on west bank right below the shelf. It was about 16” in length.

TOTAL: 24 total bull trout observed

12 McKENZIE RIVER - Olallie Boat Ramp to Paradise Campground - continued

August 1, 1994

PERSONNEL: Giles Thelen, Steve Hammond

We snorkeled the water across from Olallie boat ramp to show Steve what an adult bull trout looks like. We observed seven bull trout varying in length: one 32”; two 20”; two 16”; two 12”. Visibility was better than last time snorkeled.

The numbers of bull trout were seeing and the way that they are increasing indicates to us that they are beginning to move upstream to spawning grounds in Anderson Creek and other tributaries.

August 23, 1994

PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond, M. Wade

We started at the Carmen spawning channel and rafted down to Paradise Campground. The spawning channel had about 25 fish, (12 brook, eight CT, five Rb) all between 150 - 250mm, underneath the log raft at the head of the channel. No more fish were seen until below first sill, when 11 CT and six Rb were observed down to the mainstem McKenzie. Between here and Olallie Campground there was one hole 0.2 miles upstream of the Anderson Cr. confluence where a single 24” bull trout was observed, as well as 40 whitefish, five Rb, and two chinook. Water temperature at pool 5 was 48F.

1. Olallie boat ramp: 14 bull trout were observed: three 12-16”; five 16-24”; six 24+” all in the same location as before. Also witnessed were 95 whitefish, and 23 trout (Rb and Ct). 2. Deer Creek: Seven bull trout seen, one 18-24”; six 24+” all at end of pool right hand side going downstream. 40 whitefish, 25 trout also observed. 4. Highway pool: Two bull trout: one 24”; one 14”. A head was also found of a bull trout about 14” - a victim of an angler. 50 whitefish and 40 trout were seen. 5. Ledge pool: Three bull trout. One 18-24”; two 24+”. They were seen near the end of the pool. 6. Upper Belknap: Two bull trout: one 24+; one 18-24”. Three salmon were also observed. 7. Lower Belknap: Two bull trout observed, both in the 18-24” range. Four chinook were seen in the upper reaches of the hole. 8. Upper Bigalow (“fish rock”): No bull trout observed. 11. Paradise CG: One bull trout 22” found in eddy on left side.

TOTAL: 32 bull trout observed McKENZIE RIVER - Olallie Boat Ramp to Paradise Campground - continued

13 September 7, 1994 PERSONNEL: J. Ziller, M. Wade 1. Ollalie boat ramp: Nine bull trout seen. No sizes were recorded 2. Deer Creek: Five bull trout observed, no sizes recorded 3. Highway pool: 0 bull trout 4. Ledge pool: 0 bull trout 5. Upper Belknap: 0 bull trout 6. Lower Belknap: 0 bull trout 7. Fish Rock: 0 bull trout 8. Paradise CG: 0 bull trout TOTAL: 14 bull trout observed September 15, 1994 1. Olallie boat ramp: 6 bull trout: 3 - 24", 2 - 18", 1 - 14" 2. Deer Creek: 3 bull trout: 1 - 30", 2 - 24"; 30 juvenile chinook 3. Highway pool: 1 bull trout - 24" 4. Ledge pool: 0 bull trout, 1 adult chinook 5. Upper Belknap: 0 bull trout, 4 adult chinook 6. Lower Belknap: 0 bull trout 7. Fish Rock: 2 bull trout - 24" 8. Paradise CG: 0 bull trout, 1 adult chinook TOTAL: 12 bull trout observed

September 22, 1994 1. Olallie boat ramp: 3 bull trout: 2 - 24", 1 - 16" 2. Deer Creek: 1 bull trout - 16" 3. Highway pool: 0 bull trout 4. Ledge pool: 0 bull trout, 1 adult chinook 5. Upper Belknap: 1 bull trout - 16"; 3 adult chinook 6. Lower Belknap: 0 bull trout 7. Fish Rock: 0 bull trout 8. Paradise CG: 0 bull trout TOTAL: 5 bull trout observed

14 McKENZIE RIVER - Olallie Boat Ramp to Paradise Campground - continued September 27, 1994 1. Olallie boat ramp: 2 bull trout - 24" 2. Deer Creek: 0 bull trout, 1 adult chinook 3. Highway pool: 0 bull trout 4. Ledge pool: 0 bull trout, 1 adult chinook 5. Upper Belknap: 1 bull trout - 22"; 1 adult chinook 6. Lower Belknap: 0 bull trout 7. Fish Rock: 0 bull trout, 2 adult chinook 8. Paradise CG: not surveyed - gate locked TOTAL: 3 bull trout observed

October 7, 1994 PERSONNEL: J. Ziller, B. Bumstead 1. Olallie boat ramp: 0 bull trout 2. Deer Creek: One spawned out 24" female bull trout 3. Highway pool: 0 bull trout 4. Ledge pool: One spawned out 20" male 5. Upper Belknap: 0 bull trout 6. Lower Belknap: 0 bull trout 7. Fish Rock: One 16" male bull trout 8. Paradise CG: 0 bull trout. One chinook carcass TOTAL: 3 bull trout

October 18, 1994 1. Olallie boat ramp: 0 bull trout 2. Deer Creek: 1 bull trout - 14" 3. Highway pool: 1 bull trout - 16" 4. Ledge pool: 0 bull trout 5. Upper Belknap: 1 bull trout - 12" 6. Lower Belknap: 0 bull trout 7. Fish Rock: 0 bull trout 8. Paradise CG: 0 bull trout, 1 dead adult chinook TOTAL: 3 bull trout observed

November 10, 1994 No bull trout observed in seven of the eight pools. Lower Belknap was not surveyed because of unsafe high water conditions.

15 SEPARATION CREEK SPAWNING SURVEY DATE: October 4, 1994; 1300-1630 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond WEATHER: Warm, clear OBSERVATIONS: No fish observed NOTES: About 1000 meters upstream from confluence with Horse Creek - to old growth log across channel where R. Brooks and G. Thelen stopped in 1993. Located two possible old redds on the main channel. There was good gravel in the first side channel (where a 150mm bull trout was observed earlier this year), but no sign of activity today. The possible old redds could have been created by chinook, since juveniles were observed 10m below confluence in July 1994.

16 ANDERSON CREEK REDD AND SPAWNING SURVEY Final results are displayed in table 1.

PERSONNEL: S. Hammond, G. Thelen

September 14, 1994

OBSERVATIONS: 7 new redds: 2 below culvert, 5 above culvert 5 adult bull trout above culvert: 1 - 26"; 1 - 20"; 2 - 14"; 1 - 12"

NOTES: Lower section started at confluence with McKenzie (river mile 0.0) up to Hwy. 126 culvert (river mile 0.2). Section above culvert ended about 300m upstream of a clearcut on the left bank at river mile 1.0. Good gravel and many potential redd sites for future spawning. Only one redd observed upstream of the clearcut.

September 22, 1994

OBSERVATIONS: 4 new redds: 1 below culvert, 3 above culvert 4 adult bull trout below culvert, 2 of them spawning on redd

September 27, 1994

OBSERVATIONS: 16 redds total: 5 new; 3 below culvert; 2 redds above culvert in new section 2 adult bull trout below culvert seen on separate redds

NOTES: Marked reds with either lime green or white ribbons. Continued past river mile 1.0 to river mile 1.2. Marked end of this section with green and blue ribbons on large log across creek.

17 ANDERSON CREEK REDD AND SPAWNING SURVEY - continued

October 4, 1994

OBSERVATIONS: 21 redds total: 5 new, 4 below culvert, 1 above culvert No adult bull trout observed

NOTES: Surveyed an additional 0.3 mi. further upstream to river mile 1.5. Observed 8 redds in this new section. These redds were more defined than the lower redds. Found a bull trout head - fish would have been about 24". Surveyed small tributary in upper section - woody debris plentiful, but no good gravel spawning areas. Possible redds were marked, but not included with the total number of redds.

October 11, 1994

OBSERVATIONS: 22 redds total in regular survey: 1 new, below culvert

NOTES: Measured stream velocities over redds with digital meter (Table 3) up to river mile 1.5. We skipped the first two numbered redds on the lower section - they were questionable and not well defined. We used 10 second intervals on the velocity meter and recorded the second 10 second reading. All velocities were in meters/second. Water velocity over 15 redds were measured on this date. Redd dimensions were not measured, but will be at a later date.

October 12, 1994

OBSERVATIONS: 22 redds in regular survey, to river mile 1.6. 8 new redds from river mile 1.5 to 2.4 30 redds total on entire Anderson survey, to river mile 2.4.

NOTES: Previous U.S. Forest Service redd surveys ended at approximately river mile 1.6. We located a total of 22 redds to this point, which is important in comparing the number of redds to past years. Continued measuring water velocities over redds. Also measured redd dimensions (width and length) and took photographs of stream habitat at redd sites. Observed redds up to waterfall at river mile 2.0. The waterfall is a possible migration barrier - about a 5 foot drop at a 50 degree angle with very high water velocity. Continued up to river mile 2.4 (Rd. 830). ANDERSON CREEK REDD AND SPAWNING SURVEY - continued

18 November 16, 1994

OBSERVATIONS: No new redds 22 redds up to previous USFS survey end point (river mile 1.6)

NOTES:

This was the final redd count with USFS - Dave Bickford and Chris Dion. We counted redds up to the USFS end point for their surveys.

19 OLALLIE CREEK REDD AND SPAWNING SURVEY Confluence with McKenzie River upstream to Hwy. 126 culvert. Final results are disaplayed in table 2.

PERSONNEL: S. Hammond, G. Thelen

September 14, 1994

OBSERVATIONS: 2 redds total: both 10m downstream of culvert

NOTES: High water velocity 15m below culvert down to confluence. Only probable spawning sites within pool area 15m below culvert.

September 22, 1994

OBSERVATIONS: 2 redds total: no new redds

September 27, 1994

OBSERVATIONS: 3 redds total: 1 new red 10m downstream of culvert

October 4, 1994

OBSERVATIONS: 3 redds total: no new redds

October 11, 1994

Not surveyed

October 12, 1994

Not Surveyed

20 Table 1. Anderson Creek redd survey '94.

River mile sections: 0.0 - 0.2 0.2 - 1.0 1.0 - 1.2 1.2 - 1.5 1.5 - 2.0 2.0 - 2.4 Sept. 14 2 5 - - - Sept. 22 1 3 - - - Sept. 27 3 0 2 - - Oct. 44001- Oct. 111000- Oct. 12 00080 Oct. 18 0000 Nov 16000 Total118218

Table 2. Olallie Creek redd survey '94- Confluence with McKenzie upstream to Hwy. 126 culvert.

Redds Total Redds Sept. 14 2 2 Sept. 22 0 2 Sept. 27 1 3 Oct. 4 0 3 Oct. 11 Not surveyed 3 Oct. 12 Not surveyed 3

21 SOUTH FORK McKENZIE POPULATION SUMMARY

This adfluvial population was cut off from the mainstem McKenzie in 1963 by the construction of Cougar Dam. Bull trout inhabit the South Fork McKenzie from up to the wilderness boundary. Juvenile bull trout have been observed in the lower reaches of Roaring River. which is a large spring fed stream. Juveniles were also observed in the South Fork, but only below the Roaring River confluence. No redds have been observed, but spawning is assumed to take place near the wilderness boundary on both Roaring River and the South Fork McKenzie.

The Upper South Fork of the McKenzie, upper Roaring River, Elk Creek, and French Pete Creeks were snorkeled for juvenile bull trout. These surveys failed to locate any bull trout.

The South Fork McKenzie population is believed to be about 100 adults. We conducted a pool check of 14 holes between the Roaring River confluence and Cougar Reservoir to observe the up-stream migration of adult bull trout. Only a few large (12"+) bull trout were observed, but recent creel surveys show that many large bull trout were observed in several pools in the upper reservoir, as well as reports of about 12 fish caught in the past two years in both the river channel and in the reservoir itself. The release of bull trout regulation has been generally accepted, although there are reports of illegal harvesting.

More effort to locatine the redds in Roaring River and the upper South Fork is necessary in following years, as well as earlier pool checks to monitor for the upstream migration of adult bull trout, especially in the upper reservoir pools.

22 UPPER SOUTH FORK McKENZIE -section 1 DATE: August 10, 1994; 2100-2400 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond, L. Baker (USFS) WEATHER: Clear, 55°F; water temperature 7°C OBSERVATIONS: 35 cutthroat observed: 20<100mm; 15>100mm. NOTES: 300m section starting where the South Fork Trail meets the South Fork McKenzie River upstream to a 10-log log jam. We night snorkeled on the wilderness boundary where the vegetation went from a clear-cut area to an established old growth forest. We went from the boundary upstream about 300m. The habitat in this area was great for bull trout. There were many areas of slow moving water around undercut banks and old growth root wads. The stream substrate consisted of gravel and cobble as well as pockets of in-water woody debris in many of the margins. There was lots of down logs which provide cover and pools for the trout. About 200m upstream there was a vegetation bridge caused by downed logs that provided great cover. It went back several meters and had a nice flow going through it, but only cutthroat were observed. This was much like the bridge that a bull trout was seen in on the South Fork McKenzie.

23 SOUTH FORK McKENZIE RIVER - section 2 DATE: August 15, 1994; 2130-2300 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond WEATHER: Clear; water temp. 42°C OBSERVATIONS: Cutthroat trout: abundant - 25mm-50mm in margins; 75mm-250mm in main channel, backwater, and pools. NOTES: Approx. 1000m section starting at a 10-log log jam 300m upstream from where the South Fork Trail meets the South Fork McKenzie River. This section consisted primarily of riffles and glides with a rocky banks. There was no good cover in 85% of the section. The chief cover was provided by downed logs (blowdown next to clear-cut) . There was also considerable stream-bank erosion in the area adjacent to this clear-cut. Five log jams on the main channel provided good cover and woody debris. Numerous side channels contained good juvenile habitat, as well as pools and holes for adults. Abundant woody debris throughout most of the side channels provided cover and slowed the water velocity. Most of these channels also contained good areas of gravel substrate for spawning. Log jams and side channels seemed to have provided the majority of possible bull trout habitat in this section of the river.

24 SOUTH FORK McKENZIE RIVER - section 3 DATE: August 18, 1994; 2115-2300 PERSONNEL: S. Hammond, L. Baker, D. Hand (USFS) WEATHER: Clear 60°F; water temp. 6.5°C (2130) OBSERVATIONS: Cutthroat: Numerous - from 20mm in margins to 100-250mm in main channel and deeper water. Sculpin: 3 - 75-100mm NOTES: Upper South Fork McKenzie River from the west boundary of clear-cut, upstream approx. 460m into wilderness. Follow rd. 456 to end then continue on foot approx. 60m on old road to clear-cut boundary. Follow fire trail to north 20m down to the main channel. Stream habitat was mainly rapid/riffle with moderate pocket pools. Woody debris was scarce, mostly located in two log jams. These jams provided complex cover, slow water velocity, and a sand/detritus substrate. The dominant substrate was cobble. The side channels provided good cover, undercut banks, woody debris, and slow water velocity. The second side channel on the left going upstream had two very nice holes under vegetation bridges, but only cutthroat were observed. A downed log at the end of the survey created a 1m increase in stream channel elevation, with substantial gravel accumulation upstream. Overall bull trout habitat was marginal.

25 ELK CREEK DATE: July 27, 1994; 2100-2400 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Lewis, C. Dion (USFS) WEATHER: Clear, 50°F OBSERVATIONS: 35 cutthroat observed: 20<100mm; 15>100mm. NOTES: From wilderness boundary upstream 450m. Drive to the end of FS RD 1964, and hike northeast along a clearly defined fire trail, which bisects the creek. The wilderness boundary is about 90m upstream from this trail/creek junction. We night snorkeled on the wilderness boundary where the vegetation went from a clear-cut area to an established old growth forest. We went from the boundary upstream about 1000m. The habitat in this area was great for bull trout. There were many areas of slow moving water around undercut banks and old growth root wads. The stream substrata consisted of gravel and cobble as well as pockets of in water woody debris in many of the margins. There was lots of down logs which provide cover and pools for the trout. About 800m upstream there was a vegetation bridge caused by downed logs that provided great cover. It went back several meters and had a nice flow going through it, but only cutthroat were observed. This was much like the bridge that a bull trout was seen in on the South Fork McKenzie.

26 ROARING RIVER (UPPER) DATE: August 4, 1994; 2100-2400 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond. (J. Cutler, D. Bickford USFS). WEATHER: Clear, 60°F; water temperature 5.5°C OBSERVATIONS: 25 cutthroat: 25-200mm Tailed frog larvae - adult tailed frogs Pacific Giant salamander NOTES: Two sections. The first was from the pull out upstream 1000ft. The second was from the Roaring River Trail footbridge upstream to confluence with a spring on the right side. Go right at NFS Rd 19 to Roaring River campground. Continue about .8 mile past Roaring River bridge to a pull out (across from mile marker 23). The second site was 1.4 miles past this bridge at Roaring River Trailhead. We split into two groups, with one pair doing a 330m stretch above a falls thought to a migration barrier, and the other pair doing a 125m of an upper stretch that has a spring flowing into it. The lower main section had a very high rate of flow and didn't offer many prime spots for juvenile bull trout. There were some good side channels with slow moving water, sunken woody detritus, and fair cover, but only juvenile cutthroat were seen. One good hole about 260m up on left bank going upstream was snorkeled. It was underneath a root wade on the downstream side of a boulder. The hole went underneath the bank about 10m, but the water flow was fairly swift and only cutthroat were seen. The stream substrata consisted mainly of cobble and boulders with little cover, undercut banks, slow moving water or root wads, so not ideal habitat for juvenile or adult bull trout. The upper section Roaring River also had a high velocity flow. No fish were seen in this section. Margins were fair, with some back eddies and shallow areas, but not a lot of woody debris with only small areas of detritus which had settled out. The spring was about one-third the flow of Roaring River with similar habitat, and it also had no trout inhabiting it - only tailed frog larvae were observed. Because there are bull trout below the falls and from our observations, we assumed that the falls above the road crossing was an impassable migration barrier for bull trout.

27 ROARING RIVER (LOWER) DATE: September 13, 1994; 1000-1400 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond WEATHER: Sunny, 80°F OBSERVATIONS: Five bull trout , one 100mm and four 55mm NOTES: From Roaring River campground downstream to the confluence with S. Fork McKenzie. First road turnout downstream of Roaring River campground. Walk along rough trail to mouth and work upstream to campground. All the bull trout seen here were in the margin areas (Fig 4). Three were underneath root wads of stumps in side channels, and two were seen in shallow margin underneath a downed , 4' diameter alder. All were in slow moving water on a margin or side channel. A possible redd was seen in gravel between the main stem and a side channel (see map). The habitat was good in the margins and on the side channels, providing ample cover on this 43F water. The main channel had a very swift current which had poor habitat for juvenile bull trout. Only good spawning gravel area was where the possible redd was observed, but the water was moving pretty swift through that area.

28 FRENCH PETE CREEK DATE: August 24, 1994; 2130-2330 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond WEATHER: Clear; water temp. 12°C OBSERVATIONS: Cutthroat trout: 150+ Pacific giant salamanders: 65+ Tailed frogs: 24 NOTES: A 750 meter section was snorkeled beginning 4 kilometers east of confluence with South Fork McKenzie River. From the washed out trail bridge to the first major log jam. Hike 2.5 km to washed out footbridge. Bull trout habitat in the survey area was fairly poor. Warm water temperature (12C), very little cover, and rocky banks with few undercuts and root wads characterized this section. Some pools and margins contained submerged woody debris, but only cutthroat were observed. Riparian vegetation consisted of alder, young cedar and fir, with older cedar and fir in the upper riparian. Tailed frogs were seen on mossy rocks in the margins and on the banks. Cutthroat were very abundant (200+), along with Pacific giant salamanders. Two small crayfish were seen in a small tributary which enters from the north near the trailhead. Three other small tributaries were dry.

29 SOUTH FORK McKENZIE DATE: July 13, 1994; 0900- 1530 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Lewis WEATHER: Sunny 85°F; water temperature 10°C OBSERVATIONS: 2 bull trout - 126mm in length and 203mm in length No chinook fry observed Cutthroat trout (approx. 60); Rainbow trout (approx. 85. 80% were 35- 250mm, 20% were +250mm) Whitefish (approx. 110) NOTES: Homestead campground to Dutch Oven campground. Approximately 1.8-2.0 miles. The first bull trout was found directly across from Homestead Campground on the SW bank underneath a large cedar (Fig. 5). Water was calm and dark, approximately 6 inches in depth. The second bull trout was found at Dutch Oven Campground swimming in a pool where water had calmed after a set of rapids. Pool was approximately 8 feet deep, shaded by a large cedar tree. Riparian zone in the survey was old growth mixed with second growth. Observed approximately 6 good sites for bull trout habitat. One site in particular was found .2 miles downstream at first side channel. A large log jam created many pools and hidden cover with sandy, detritus bottom cover. This semi-land bridge offered excellent shelter in slow moving water. Only cutthroat were observed.

30 SOUTH FORK McKENZIE ADULT SURVEY Steve Hammond and Giles Thelen snorkeled an 11.5 mile section of river between August 17 and August 30 checking between Frissell Crossing Campground and the top of Cougar Reservoir looking for and mapping possible holes that could contain adult bull trout. We also checked all margin areas with good habitat, such as rot wads, undercut banks, and other zones of good cover. NOTE: all distances are estimated and milage checked on the road whenever possible.

August 30, 1994 SECTION: Bridge at Frissel Crossing Campground downstream to Twin Springs Campground 1. 0.1 mile below bridge at a log jam, 5m above mouth of Roaring River. This pool isn't very large, but there is a nice glide from here down about 15m below Roaring River mouth, and it's the closest pool to the tributary that has road access. No bull trout seen. 2. .35 miles below bridge. Good habitat here - one margin has a nice root wad and undercut bank and the other margin contains good spawning gravel. Pool is 10m long and fairly calm. A nice pool, but no convenient road access to this site. No bull trout. 3. .45 mile past bridge, where side channel on right side going downstream connects back with main channel. Decent pool, five feet deep with whitefish present. Side channel had real nice juvenile habitat with some deeper pools also, but no bull trout observed. 4. This isn't a pool, but we found a bull trout juvenile about 65mm underneath a downed log (about 14 cm in diameter ) (Fig 6). 5. A series of three pools each separated by 5m of white water about 1.2 miles downstream from bridge. Whitefish present, but not many fish seen overall. No bull trout. 6. 1.4 miles downstream, caused by a log jam, and no bull trout present. A large, 20" salmonid appearing fish was witnessed by Steve in a shallow riffle right before we pulled out at Twin Springs Campground. The fish swam away before a positive identification could be made. It was very likely an adult bull trout.

August 22, 1994 SECTION: Twin Springs Campground to Homestead Campground. There was some good glides about .2 mile below Twin Springs C.G. with nice margin habitat for bull trout, but none were observed. The margin area across from Twin Springs C.G. had nice spawning gravel and shade from alder trees, but not much cover is provided for prospective juvenile bull trout, and none were observed.

31 SOUTH FORK McKENZIE ADULT SURVEY - continued 7. .5 mile from Twin Springs C.G.. Pretty fast water through this section. About 100m below this on the left hand side as you go downstream is a great side channel with undercut banks and root wads of old growth cedars. No bull trout were seen. 8. Below Rd 407 bridge, 2 miles from Twin Springs C.G.. Water was moving fairly swift here also. No bull trout. 9. 75m below pool 2. Big hole with some good shade from old growth fir and cedar. Decent substrate, no bull trout. 10. At Homestead C.G.. A good size hole up to four feet deep. Cobble and boulder substrate, with fair margin areas. Root wad underneath old growth cedar directly across from campground did not have bull trout this time. There's a good pool .8 miles downstream from Homestead that is part of our permanent pool check. (This stream section was surveyed before we were specifically searching for holes).

August 17, 1994 SECTION: Dutch Oven Campground to 1.3 miles (road) downstream. 11. At Dutch Oven campground (the first campground past crossing with Rd 1927 driving upstream). No bull trout. 60 WF, eight Rb, 15 Ct. After this there were two nice glides .5 mile past the campground. 12. .7 road miles past Dutch Oven. This hole is on the left bank as you’re facing downstream behind a log on the margin. There was great habitat here, with lots of cover, woody debris on the river bottom, slow moving water, and undercut banks including some rot wads. No bull trout were observed. 13. .85 past Dutch Oven, with access at an unmarked campground off Rd. 19. One 12” bull trout was observed at the top of the pool where the whitewater was located (Fig. 7). It was right where the bend was - only whitewater cover for this bull trout. It was on the downstream side of a large boulder in a little eddy. The pool here was about seven feet deep. 14. Access for this and the following four holes is at an unnamed campground 1.3 miles from Dutch Oven Campground, marked with a painted orange diamond on a downstream tree before the pull in. This pool is about 1.05 miles below Dutch Oven. This hole was created by some very large boulders. About 25 cutthroat were observed, some getting up to 9" in length. Some good habitat was located behind these rocks, where there was some deeper backwater with accumulated woody debris on the bottom, and cover underneath these large boulders. Water possibly a little low in flow here. 15. Same access. This pool is 50m below pool 4. Habitat was mainly just gravel and cobble, with one downed log providing the only woody cover.

32 SOUTH FORK McKENZIE ADULT SURVEY - continued 16. Same access, about 75m below pool 5. Habitat is very similar to other pools, except there is no cover provided. Margins here is also like the other four holes in this series - mostly rocky with hardly any undercut banks or other cover. Substrate consists of cobble and boulders, with some detritus and silt in the margin areas. 17. Same access. Located about 75m below pool 6, this hole had the same habitat, but still no bull trout. 18. Same access, 65m below pool 7. Same substrata and make-up as other pools. All these holes had a combination of whitefish (75), rainbow (35), cutthroat (50), and juvenile chinook (200), but no bull trout.

August 25, 1994 SECTION: From 1.3 miles below Dutch Oven Campground to .9 mile below Rebel Creek bridge crossing. 19. 0.15 mile from start, at bend in river going right downstream. 45 whitefish, 8 rainbow. No bull trout. 20. 0.45 mile from start. Only 12 rainbow seen. This pool, like the one before, has a substrate consisting of cobble and boulders, with a rocky margin providing no cover. 21. In series with pool 20, so about 50m apart. observed 25 rainbow and cutthroat. 22. On a side channel to the left facing downstream, about .55 mile down from start. This pool is located in conjunction with a large rock. There was recent signs of an otter living here, and no fish were present. 23. 100m below pool 22. 20 whitefish, 15 cutthroat, 10 rainbow and a small school of chinook juveniles were observed. The channel between here and the next pool is shallow and the cobble substrate is covered by a thick layer of algae, but has nice pockets of deeper (3’) water. 24. 150m below pool 22. Witnessed 35 whitefish in the upper reaches of the hole, as well as 23 trout throughout the length of this pool. No bull trout observed. 25. This pool is 1.4 miles road miles from the start. 19 rainbow/cutthroat were seen, along with two whitefish. This stretch didn’t provide great overall habitat. Little in-water cover was available in the channel, but there were a few margin areas with good root wads or cover. There were surprisingly few other fish seen in these holes or the areas in between.

33 SOUTH FORK ADULT SURVEY - STANDARD POOL LOCATIONS 1. This pool is at a small log jam about 10m upstream from the confluence of Roaring River. Not many fish seen in this pool, but in the riffle downstream bull trout have been observed. Access is at the second road turnoff below the Frissel Crossing bridge on your left going downstream. Continue down dirt road until a camp spot is reached. Follow a rough trail to the river and continue upstream to the log jam. 2. This hole is 2.4 miles from Frissel Crossing Campground at the third left turn past Twin Springs Campground. Not many fish ever seen in this hole. 3. This is a series of holes. Park at Homestead Campground and walk the trail upstream to just past the bridge on road 407. Snorkel down into the three holes which contain whitefish, rainbow and cutthroat. 4. This pool is .8 miles below Homestead Campground. Pull into steep downhill turnout and park at the bend where it flattens out. Follow old growth tree that’s blocking the road down to a trail that leads you to the water. Again, not many fish ever seen in this pool. 5. This pool is at Dutch Oven Campground (DOCG), just upstream of road 1927 turnoff. A good hole with bull trout spotted here in the past. 6. .8 mile downstream of DOCG at the first left hand turn downstream of DOCG. Another good hole with bull trout previously witnessed. 7. A series of five holes. Park in campground 1.2 miles below DOCG at the second left turnout going downstream. Walk upstream and park at the hole with two very large boulders in it, about 600m away. 8. A series of four pools. Take turnout 2.0 miles below DOCG, just upstream from Rebel Creek bridge crossing. Continue on dirt road and take your first left into a camp site. Take step trail down to first hole and continue downstream for the following pools. Abundant whitefish in this stretch. 9. A series of two holes about 175m apart. 3.0 miles below DOCG pull into turnout just downstream of mile post 45 (13 going upstream). Take trail down to river.

10. 1.4 miles below hole 9 at the confluence of Hardy Creek - just upstream of road 1980 bridge crossing. 11. French Pete Campground hole, and deep riffle about 75m upstream of the pool. Two adult bull trout were reportedly caught and released in early September by anglers. 12. .34 mile below pool 11 at pull out behind a large rock going downstream. 13 & 14. Reservoir pools. Take road on east side of Reservoir towards Slide Creek Campground. Turnoff on road 509 and into “Stump City”. Take a left at the “T” to the end of the road for pool 13, and take a right to the end of the road to the last pool. Witnesses say that dozens of adult bull trout have been observed in these holes at one time.

34 SOUTH FORK ADULT SURVEY - STANDARD POOLS

September 12, 1994 Pool 1: 4 cutthroat Pool 2: 0 fish Pool 3: 3 rainbow, 7 cutthroat, 5 whitefish Pool 4: 5 rainbow, 3 cutthroat Pool 5: 8 rainbow, 15 cutthroat, 45 whitefish Pool 6: 0 fish - bull trout observed here before Pool 7: 8 rainbow, 15 cutthroat, 3 whitefish Pool 8: 18 rainbow, 20 cutthroat, 45 whitefish Pool 9: 15 rainbow, 10 cutthroat

September 19, 1994 Pool 1: 1 rainbow, 5 whitefish Pool 2: 1 rainbow Pool 3: 0 fish Pool 4: 1 rainbow Pool 5: 2 rainbow, 5 whitefish Pool 6: 10 rainbow/cutthroat

Pool 7: 18 rainbow, 14 cutthroat, 3 whitefish Pool 8: 8 rainbow, 4 cutthroat, 35 whitefish, 20 other rainbow/cutthroat Pool 9: 11 rainbow, 15 cutthroat, 12 whitefish, 30 juvenile chinook Pool 10: 7 rainbow, 4 cutthroat; heavy angling pressure (hippy camp) Pool 11: 45 rainbow/cutthroat, 10 whitefish (French Pete CG)

September 26, 1994 Pool 1: 3 rainbow, 2 cutthroat Pool 2: 0 fish

35 SOUTH FORK ADULT SURVEY - STANDARD POOLS - continued Pool 3: 10 rainbow/cutthroat, 1 dead 12" rainbow Pool 4: 3 rainbow Pool 5: 8 rainbow/cutthroat, 15 whitefish, 1 sculpin Pool 6: 12 rainbow/cutthroat, 5 whitefish Pool 7: 55 rainbow/ cutthroat, 30 whitefish, 25 juvenile chinook Pool 8: not surveyed Pool 9: 45 rainbow/cutthroat, 20 whitefish, 15 juvenile chinook Pool 10: 5 rainbow, 5 juvenile chinook Pool 11: 30 rainbow/cutthroat, 5 whitefish, 25 juvenile chinook Pool 12: 8 rainbow/cutthroat, 6 juvenile chinook

October 3, 1994 Pool 1: 1 rainbow Pool 2: 0 fish Pool 3: 4 rainbow, 9 whitefish Pool 4: 2 rainbow Pool 5: 2 rainbow, 6 whitefish Pool 6: 3 rainbow Pool 7: 18 rainbow, 3 cutthroat, 12 whitefish

Pool 8: not surveyed Pool 9: 18 rainbow, 7 cutthroat, 8 whitefish, 5 juvenile chinook Pool 10: 0 fish Pool 11: 9 rainbow/cutthroat, 6 whitefish, 2 juvenile chinook Pool 12: 3 rainbow

36 SOUTH FORK ADULT SURVEY - STANDARD POOLS - continued October 10, 1994 Pool 1: bull trout - 18" - just downstream of Roaring River confluence in riffle (Fig. 8). 1 rainbow, 1 whitefish Pool 2: 0 fish Pool 3: 3 rainbow/cutthroat, 5 whitefish Pool 4: not surveyed Pool 5: 0 fish Pool 6: 3 rainbow Pool 7: 14 rainbow Pool 8, 9,10: not surveyed because of boat launching attempt Pool 11: 7 rainbow Pool 12 and 13: 0 fish: angler reportedly caught a 26" bull trout in pool at head of Cougar reservoir and observed about 20 others in pool by culvert on washed out road in the same area on Sept. 17, 1994.

October 16, 1994 Pool 1: 2 rainbow Pool 2: 0 fish Pool 3: 2 whitefish Pool 4: 0 fish

Pool 5: 0 fish Pool 6: 1 rainbow Pool 7: 7 rainbow, 2 cutthroat, 1 whitefish Pool 8: no surveyed Pool 9: 12 rainbow, 3 cutthroat Pool 10: not surveyed Pool 11: 5 rainbow/cutthroat Pool 12 and 13: 0 fish

37 MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE POPULATION SUMMARY

Historically, bull trout have been reported in the Middle Fork and North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette, Salt, Swift, and Staley Creeks, and in Hills Creek Reservoir. The construction of Hills Creek Reservoir in 1961, chemical treatment to remove non- game fish from above the dam, habitat alteration from timber harvest, loss of spring chinook, and over fishing, may all have contributed to the decline of this population. This population is now isolated above Hills Creek Dam, with the last confirmed sighting in 1990.

For a second year in a row, extensive snorkeling and spawning ground surveys failed to locate any bull trout.Found and Beaver Creeks, Indigo and Chuckle Springs, Pioneer Gulch, and the North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette were surveyed for juvenile bull trout. Potential spawning grounds areas on the Middle Fork Willamette were examined, as well as Swift, Simpson, and Found Creeks. No redds were observed. The spawning habitat was limited on the Middle Fork, and there were only a few tributaries (Indigo and Chuckle Spring) that were spring fed with good cover and woody debris, which is perfect for rearing, but they had very limited gravel for spawning. Local anglers report of several fish caught two years ago on the Middle Fork in the area of Indigo Springs, and also fish seen and caught in Swift Creek, but no conformation was provided.

More snorkeling and spawning ground checks from mid September to mid October should be conducted in the future when the "Dollies" spawn above Hills Creek Reservoir.

38 BEAVER CREEK (UPPER) DATE: July 25-26, 1994; 1300-1630 and 2130-2330 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Lewis WEATHER: Day-Sunny 85°F, Night-Clear 45°F, water temperature 15°C OBSERVATIONS: Day: 7 brook trout observed from electroshocking (21mm-150mm) Night: 17 brook trout and 3 cutthroat observed snorkeling. NOTES: First access point N.F. 21 crosses Beaver Creek. Second access point on Rd 2154, .9 miles from N.F. 21 intersection. For third access point, from 2154 turn on 380. Site located at post 5529 at crossing of 380 with 392. We electroshocked and night snorkeled at three access points on Beaver Creek to determine the presence or absence of bull trout at three road access points. 380-post 5529 access: Electro--3 Brook (30,90, and150mm) found downstream side of culvert. Snorkel--6 Brook 100-200mm, 4 Brook under 100 found downstream side of culvert. Riparian zone consisted of approximately 20 year old clear cut above culvert with scarce mixed stand of trees surrounding stream below culvert. No old growth. Large rocks below culvert helped create pools where brook trout were found. 2154 access: Electro--2 Brook above culvert (50mm) and 2 brook below culvert (150mm). Snorkel--2 brook above culvert (50mm), 1 brook below culvert (250mm). Shallow standing water above culvert. Larger pools approximately 2 ft deep below culvert created by large rocks. Water diminishes below culvert after pools. Standing shallow pools found dispersed randomly around. “Snake” also observed in pools. NF 21 access: Snorkel: 2 cutthroat above culvert and 1 below culvert (150mm- 250mm) and 4 brook below culvert (150mm-200mm). Shallow standing water above culvert. Large 4 ft pool below culvert with surrounding shallow pools. Second growth or possible old growth riparian zone.

39 BEAVER CREEK (LOWER) DAY DATE: August 8, 1994; 1300-1630 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond WEATHER: Day-Sunny 75-80°F; water temperature 14.7°C OBSERVATIONS: 37 brook trout (32 25-100mm and 5 100-160mm) observed from above water search. Two garter snakes were observed in separate pools. NOTES: N.F. Rd. 21 to confluence with Middle Fork Willamette. Access where N.F. 21 crosses Beaver Creek. Above water visual search: No fish observed in small pools just upstream and downstream of culvert. 37 brook trout were observed in 11 small pools at least 10cm deep downstream from culvert pools. The deepest pool was approximately 36cm deep. Shallow standing water pool 6.2m feet above culvert followed by large cobble/small boulder substrate to culvert. Very little flow through culvert. Medium 0.9m foot pool below culvert with shallow surrounding pools. Water flow into pools is minimal, allowing algae growth throughout the section. The substrate is comprised of small boulder/cobble with few gravel beds. Some better gravel beds are located above the water surface. The majority of the 1400m of creek surveyed flows through a 20-25 year-old clear-cut, with a 700m section of complete sub-surface flow until a spring enters from the east bank 200m upstream from the confluence with the Middle Fork Willamette. Stream cover is scarce, with some provided by downed woody debris, small shrubs and vine maple, and a few undercut root wads. Stream bank stability is poor in many areas, with considerable erosion possible on the cobble and gravel banks during high flow. Stream conditions improve dramatically downstream from the spring, which begins 5m east and plunges down a 2m, 75% slope into the creek. The temperature at the source was 5.0C. Cover is close to 100% and is provided by thick vine maple and small conifers (very difficult streamside travel). Several pools, undercut banks, gravel substrate, woody debris, and cooler water temperature provide more favorable fish habitat than the section above the spring. About 15m below the confluence is a 3m vertical waterfall on the Middle Fork Willamette, a probable migration and passage barrier.

40 BEAVER CREEK -(LOWER) NIGHT DATE: August 9, 1994; 2107-2400 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond WEATHER: Night-clear; water temperature 5.0°C OBSERVATIONS: 22 cutthroat trout (18<100mm and 4>100mm) observed from snorkel search. NOTES: Confluence with Middle Fork Willamette up to spring source. A night snorkel survey was conducted on Beaver Creek from the confluence with Middle Fork Willamette upstream 200m to a spring source to determine the presence or absence of bull trout and to document other fish species and habitat. Extreme overgrowth of vine maple, alder, and small conifers over most of the section made searching some areas difficult, but provided excellent cover. Three holes within 30m downstream of the spring looked like good habitat, providing depth and woody debris cover, and good undercut margins. There were very few other good margins. Bottom woody debris and detritus was good, but larger debris and rootwads were not as numerous. Heavy erosion and streambank failures were also noticed where trees had been cut. Substrate consisted of silt, gravel and cobble, with a few small boulders. The 700m section of Beaver Creek above the spring is totally dry, creating a passage barrier to the upper sections that do have surface flow.

41 CHUCKLE SPRING DATE: August 2, 1994; 1100-1700 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond, E. Beyer WEATHER: Sunny, 80°F; water temperature 39°F OBSERVATIONS: 3 cutthroat: 50-100mm NOTES: From confluence with Middle Fork Willamette upstream 10m. The habitat in this stretch was fairly good, with great water temperature, a nice slow flow, and lots of cover. There was a lot of in water woody debris; but it was, clogging up the water and creating a possible migration barrier for bull trout. There was old growth fir and cedar in the area and many fallen logs in the stream channel, providing great cover. There also was very undercut banks and root wads providing cover. Not many fish were observed, probably due to the great amount of in-water woody debris in this stretch of creek.

42 FOUND CREEK DATE: July 25, 1994; 1100- 0100 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen S. Lewis WEATHER: Sunny 85°F; water temperature 13°C OBSERVATIONS: Day: No bull trout present Night: No bull trout present 70 juvenile chinook: 50-100mm; 10 chinook: >100mm 30 cutthroat trout: 80-300mm 8 rainbow trout: 100-200mm NOTES: From confluence with MFW to footbridge; from Rd. 21 crossing downstream 200 meters. Day: During the day we attempted to do an electrofishing probe of Found Creek from NFS Rd21 crossing downstream 100 meters. This stretch of the creek was through an old cut area, so there was no mature riparian cover. The stream was dispersed through a wide area, making the ground marshy. There was a lot of grass cover growing in and around the creek, making for unsatisfactory snorkeling and electrofishing conditions, so no fish were observed in this area. The creek substrata consisted of mostly silt and organic debris; there was no cobble or stones or cover, masking for poor bull trout habitat. Night: We snorkeled from the confluence of Found Creek and the main stem of the MFW. About 30 meters up there is a confluence of Found Creek with a side channel of the MFW. On the first 30 meters we observed many juvenile chinook along the margins, and cutthroat and rainbow were in the swift moving waters of the creek. Water in this stretch was mostly around six inches in depth, and didn't exceed 24 inches. The substrata was mostly silt, gravel and cobble with a few boulders. There was woody detritus along the margins only, and it was all along the creek bottom. The riparian vegetation consisted of mostly alder trees.

43 INDIGO CREEK DATE: August 3, 1994; August 8, 1994; 2100-2400 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond WEATHER: Night-Clear OBSERVATIONS: No bull trout observed 22 cutthroat observed: 50-100mm NOTES: Confluence of east Indigo Creek side channel and Middle Fork Willamette up to culvert under FS Rd. 21. Indigo Spring Trailhead to Middle Fork Willamette Trail. Travel west to first footbridge for the first section of the branched channel (a wood engraving of a bird on a tree marks this one), and continue to the second footbridge for the main section of Indigo. We night snorkeled the west channel of Indigo Creek from the footbridge on the MFW trail to culvert under FS Rd. 21. A side channel branches off to the east and flows south directly into the MFW. Access to this side channel is at the first footbridge to the west on the MFW trail past the Indigo Creek Trail. Moderate quantities of woody debris, root wads, undercut banks, and good side channels and margins with slow flow provided good juvenile bull trout habitat, although few good gravel spawning beds were present. A spring enters from the west, providing a substantial amount of water volume to the creek. The stream appeared to be in healthy condition, with many downed logs, mossy banks, and old growth conifers lining the banks. Some trees had been removed from the stream banks though. Many areas had very high water velocity and turbulence.

44 PIONEER GULCH DATE: July 25, 1994: 0900-1400; August 2, 1994: 2100-2130 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Lewis WEATHER: Sunny 85°F; water temp. at Rd. crossings 14°C; mouth 5°C OBSERVATIONS: Day: No bull trout present One unidentified fish Night: No bull trout present Three cutthroat: 60-100mm NOTES: From mouth up 10m: at road crossings 21, 2149, 397, 398. Take left onto Rd 2149 up .6 miles to Rd 397 and follow to crossing (about 50m). Rd 398 is 1.5 miles up Rd 2149 and follow this also to Pioneer Gulch crossing (at W5533 post). 2.6 miles up Rd 2149 is also a crossing with Pioneer Gulch. July 25: During the day we attempted to do an electrofishing probe of Pioneer Gulch at several NFS road crossings. At the crossings with RDAs. 21 and 397 the stream bed was dry. At Rd crossing 398 there was water observed, but it was through a clearcut so it was overgrown with grass and there was no gravel or woody cover apparent. Due to the poor water access a electrofishing probe wasn't performed and no fish were observed. At Rd. 2149 crossing there is significant water flow. An electrofishing probe was done on the south side of the culvert. A juvenile trout was seen, but the electrofisher was unable to bring it to the surface. Due to the water habitat and temperature, we assumed that it was not a bull trout. August 2 day and night: A snorkeling probe was conducted in the day and at night from the mouth up several meters to a cascade. Three cutthroat were observed. Above a downed old growth fir good habitat was observed. Good undercut banks going back several feet as well as old growth cover, in-stream woody debris, and slow water flow seemed good for bull trout, but none were observed in the day or night. The cascade was a probable migration barrier.

45 MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE DATE: August 2, 1994; 1000-1600 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond, E. Beyer WEATHER: Sunny 80°F; water temperature 44°F OBSERVATIONS: No bull trout observed. 150 cutthroat: 100<100mm, 50>100mm 50 rainbow: 20<100mm, 30>100mm NOTES: From the confluence of Chuckle Spring to the Confluence of Indigo Creek. We snorkeled three holes, as well as the margins and side channels in this stretch looking for bull trout. The stream habitat in this area was fair, with some cover and shading by mixed-age conifers and alder trees. The margin areas were also fair, with a mostly rocky make-up. There were areas of undercut banks, but they were very shallow. Not many root wads of conifers were observed. Some in water detritus was seen, but it was not abundant. Of the three holes, the first one provided the best habitat. It consisted of a huge log jam, about 30m down and 50 meters across. This provided many deep, shaded pools with lots of cover and a nice, slow water flow. The stream bed also had a silt and woody debris make-up here. Five pools were snorkeled throughout this jam, and no bull trout were seen. The next good hole was about 0.2 miles above mouth of Pioneer Gulch. It didn't have much cover, but it was about seven feet deep. Last hole was located right upstream from mouth of Indigo Creek. Again, it was a deep hole, but not much cover was provided. Not much ideal habitat for adult or juvenile bull trout in this stretch besides the major log jam area.

46 MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE SPAWNING SURVEY DATE: September 20, 1994; 1400 - 1800 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond WEATHER: Clear, warm OBSERVATIONS: Cutthroat: 4 (hook and line) 2-200mm and 2-250mm NOTES: Middle Fork Willamette from confluence with Chuckles Spring upstream to Beaver Creek, then about 40m of Beaver Creek. Downstream on MFW from Chuckles to Swift Creek. Pioneer Gulch and Indigo Creek were also surveyed up to Rd 21. The Middle Fork Willamette was surveyed for spawning adult bull trout and redds. About 150m was surveyed from the Chuckles Spring confluence upstream until the gradient increased and the channel became steeply incised, confined to vertical rock cliffs. The trail was followed along this section until the gradient decreased and the channel became less incised. A very large failure about half way to Beaver Creek washed in from a steeply incised tributary entering form the south deposited a substantial amount of cobble and gravel sized material into the MFW. This alluvium created a 150m glide upstream with an average depth of 35cm. Gravel and silt were the only substrates in this glide, creating possible spawning habitat. Three cutthroat were quickly captured by hook and line. The last area surveyed on the MFW before Beaver Creek was a 100m section below a 4m vertical waterfall 15m downstream of Beaver Creek. A 200mm cutthroat was caught below the falls. The rest of this section contained very few areas of spawning and juvenile rearing habitat, with little woody debris. The falls were high enough to be a migration barrier. The 40m section of Beaver creek, which flowed through a 25-30 year old clearcut, was extremely overgrown with vine maple and alder. No good spawning habitat was observed - it was mainly cascade/riffle with cobble substrate and very little gravel. Chuckles Spring was surveyed from the source down to the confluence with the MFW. Woody debris was abundant and had good juvenile rearing habitat, but had no areas of good spawning gravel. Pioneer Gulch was surveyed from the confluence with the MFW up to a small waterfall and had the same habitat as Chuckles Spring. Indigo Creek was surveyed from the confluence with the MFW up to the culvert at rd. 21. The main channel and the side channel were covered. Silt was a common substrate, with few areas of gravel, and ample woody debris. Spot checks on the MFW from Chuckles Spring revealed some areas of good gravel, with one very questionable red observed. Most of the better gravel areas were behind log jams and in side channels.

47 MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE AND SIMPSON CREEK SPAWNING CHECKS DATE: September 21, 1994; 1400-1600 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond WEATHER: Clear, warm OBSERVATIONS: No fish or redds seen. NOTES: Simpson Creek from confluence with MFW up to Rd 21. MFW 200m below Rd 2143 bridge. A quick check was done on the MFW to see the location of a bull trout sighting from Labor Day weekend in 1991. The survey revealed no bull trout, but the area did have good spawning potential, with a large gravel bed and calm water. The backwater area had good juvenile habitat (woody debris and calm water) caused in part by beaver activity. Future surveys should concentrate in this area and a juvenile search should be conducted. No temperature was taken. Simpson Creek had mainly cobble and small boulder substrate, with just a few areas of gravel. There was no woody debris for cover in the channel.

48 MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE SPAWNING SURVEYS DATE: September 29, 1994 PERSONNEL: S. Hammond, G. Thelen OBSERVATIONS: No bull trout or redds observed. NOTES: Mouths of Chuckle Spring, Pioneer Gulch, and Indigo Creek; spot checks along MFW between Chuckle Spring and Indigo Creek; Found Creek from mouth to MFW trail footbridge; spot checks on MFW from campground by Swift Creek up to pool 0.5 mi. upstream of Found Creek. There are areas of good gravel in the main channel and side channels. Found Creek has good gravel at the mouth, but not up to the footbridge. The water level is also low in Found. The pool 0.5 mile above Found provides good cover from woody debris and logs, and contains good gravel toward the tail. Chuckle Spring and Indigo Creek provide cold water and habitat near their mouths, but cascades and increased slope reduce suitable habitat further upstream.

49 MFW - POOL CHECK - SACANDAGA AND BIG PINE OPENING DATE: October 6, 1994; 1000-1230 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond WEATHER: Clear, 60 - 65°F OBSERVATIONS: Sacandaga: Bull trout - 0 Whitefish - 25 Rainbow/cutthroat - 25 (20 4"-10", 5 14") Big Pine Opening: Bull trout - 0 Whitefish - 35 Rainbow/cutthroat - 8 Sucker - 1 14" Chinook (juvenile) - 5 NOTES: Two pools on MFW at Sacandaga Campground, and one pool under the Rd 2134 bridge at Big Pine Opening. The upper Sacandaga pool has good gravel substrate in the margins on the south bank (salmon spawning observed here in 1993), along with good depth cover. The lower pool provides good cover with depth and vegetation, but no good spawning areas. The Big Pine Opening pool provided depth cover, but little else. Large bull trout were reportedly caught here two years ago.

50 NORTH FORK OF MIDDLE FORK WILLAMETTE DATE: September 27, 1994; 1700-2300 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond, (Nikki Swanson USFS) WEATHER: Clear; Water temperature: 42°F OBSERVATIONS: Cutthroat: abundant, from 50mm - 250mm 9 Brook: from 100mm - 200mm 2 kokanee juveniles: 30mm Sculpins: 50mm -100mm NOTES: Take N. Fork trail upstream 1.5 miles to 150m past Skookum Cr , where there is a small trail over to the N. Fork. Nikki thought she observed a bull trout on an earlier night snorkel, so we returned to get a positive identification. This section of the stream is through a level flood plain area, so it meanders through the plain with an average width of nine feet and depths ranging from 6" to 5'. The deeper pools had abundant cutthroat, with some brook trout mixed in on the margins. We snorkeled it in the evening and at night. In the evening we didn't witness any brookies, but at night they appeared, mostly hanging out in the margin areas at the end of pools in the riffle areas. There was no white water in this stretch of river. The vegetation was on the banks was thick brush with nothing more than 10m tall, and it stretched out over the water, providing decent cover for the fish. Great spawning gravel. and some sunken woody debris in this open channel. The bull trout Nikki thought she saw turned out to be a brook trout, and no other bull trout were observed. Two Kokanee were seen (and one captured), most likely from Waldo Lake.

51 SWIFT CREEK AND FOUND CREEK SPAWNING CHECK DATE: September 21, 1994; 1000-1300 PERSONNEL: G. Thelen, S. Hammond WEATHER: Clear, warm OBSERVATIONS: Cutthroat: 2 - 200mm (hook and line) NOTES: Found Creek from the confluence with MFW up to the MFW trail bridge. Swift creek from the confluence with MFW up to the Rd 21 bridge. Turn right on first spur road east of Swift Creek bridge on road 21. Stay to right until end at campsite. Follow MFW trail (which is at this camp) to east for Found Creek (it is marked on the trail), and to west for Swift Creek (about 75m from camp). Swift Creek had some pockets of good gravel interspersed with cobble and small boulder. Very little cover for juveniles, but good areas for spawning. Few areas are shaded because of no large trees along the banks and riparian zone, just small firs, alder, and cedar. Salmon were observed spawning here last year, but none this year. Found Creek had good areas of gravel and slow water velocity toward the mouth, but nothing above that to the trail.

52 SWIFT CREEK SPAWNING SURVEY DATE: September, 29, 1994; 1230-1400 PERSONNEL: S. Hammond, G. Thelen WEATHER: Overcast, rain OBSERVATIONS: No fish or redds observed. NOTES: 0.2 mile section above Minnehaha Creek . Pullout about 0.3 mile northeast of Minnehaha Creek. This section contained no good spawning habitat. It was mainly cascade/riffle flowing through large cobble and small and large boulder substrate. The only gravel was contained in small pockets behind boulders and did not look like suitable habitat. Woody debris was scarce and confined to the margins.

53 SWIFT CREEK SPAWNING SURVEY DATE: October 5, 1994; 1300-1500 PERSONNEL: S. Hammond, G. Thelen WEATHER: Partly cloudy, mild OBSERVATIONS: No fish or redds seen. NOTES: 300m above Bear Creek to 300m below Hyak Creek. Bear Creek is about 25m upstream of Hyak Creek. This section contained no good spawning habitat. It was mainly cascade/riffle flowing through large cobble and small and large boulder substrate. The only gravel was contained in small pockets behind boulders and did not look like suitable habitat. Woody debris was scarce and confined to the margins and above the waterline. Bear Creek and Hyak Creek were not surveyed.

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